The very BEST day of Down Syndrome Awareness Month ----- Day 27

5 years ago today --- was one of the most amazing days of my life. (Tied evenly with 4 other special days! LOL). Early in the morning I got up for work. My due date wasn't for another two weeks, but I was feeling a bit strange, but never thought the day would go the way it did.

I was at work for about an hour and called my OB's office. The baby hadn't been moving a lot, so I was a bit nervous. I was a first time mom so that probably contributed to the paranoia! She told me to go ahead and come in. Left my work all on my desk and grabbed my purse and off I went. "I am sure I will be back" I mentioned to my friends before I left.

A non-stress test and an ultrasound later, I was sure that everything was ok and was thinking I was going back to work. My dr came in and said, they were a little concerned so it was better to just go ahead and get the process started if that was ok with me. Um....YEAH!!!

They wisked me off to Labor & Delivery. This was probably about 11:00 am. After some difficult hours....some just uncomfortable and one that was just downright scary, at 6:42 pm, Josette Elaine was born. She weighed 6lbs 14oz and 19 inches long. She was perfect. I got to give her a quick kiss and she and Joe were off to the NICU because her O2 levels were on the low side!

 

It wasn’t until very late that evening, that I would get a chance to hold her.  They brought her to my room to try to get her to nurse and she really didn’t want any part of it.  During the night her O2 levels dropped again and that was the last time they brought her to me.  For the next 10 days, I would have to go visit my little girl in the NICU.   We left the hospital on oxygen, but only for 7 days and then we were tube free! 

 

I can’t believe how quickly 5 years have passed!  It seems like just yesterday that Josie was our only child and my sweet sleeping baby!  Today she is in preschool, talks, walks, signs, tells jokes, makes us laugh, fights with her siblings, adores her siblings, loves macaroni and cheese with hotdogs, loves princess movies, gives hugs when someone is crying, loves her teachers, and is so grown-up and independent for only being 5.  My life has changed in a million ways because of her and every single one of them is for the better!!  Happy 5th Birthday my sweet girlie!!  Mommy loves you with all her heart!  Today and EVERYDAY!!!